Improvement in whiffletree-irons



WILLIAM w. URQUHART.

improvement iri' whiffletree Irons.

Patented June 20,1871.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. IMPROVEMENT IN WHlFFLETREE-IRONS.

Specification fo rming part of Letters Patent No. 116,239, dated June 20, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WALLAcH URQUHART, of Bay City, in the county of Bay and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Whiftletree-Irons; and I do declare that the following is a true and accurate description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon and being a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective of my device attached to one end of a whiffletree, showing a section of a trace. Fig. 2 is a similar view detached from the whiffletree with the dog raised. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bottom, showing the spring.

Like letters refer to like parts in each figure.

The nature of this invention relates to the construction of a device to be attached to the ends of whiffletrees for the purpose of engagement with the tugs, so arranged that the latter may be instantaneously detached when desired. The invention consists in so constructing a whifietrec-iron that the tug or trace which engages with it may be, when desired, instantaneously detached; also, in the peculiar arrangement of the various parts, as more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawing, A represents a ring-socket fitting onto the end of the whiffletree B. A prolongation of this ring-socket forms two vertical walls, 0 D, from the former of which there projects, inwardly, the rigid stud E. Between said walls is pivoted, at the rear end, the latch F, which fills about half the space between the walls, and, when closed, rests against the inward end of the stud, the rear side of which is beveled, the base being the thickest, and the point the thinnest part thereof. G is a spring secured to the under side of the device in such a manner as to secure the latch firmly in position, whether closed or open. A cord, H, is attached at b to the outer end of the'latch, the opposite end of the string being within reach of the driver. The tug being engaged with the stud, and the animal being frightened and running, the driver draws the latch open by means of the cord, when the tug slips off the stud, the rear side of which is beveled for that purpose.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The arral'lgement, within the walls 0 and D of the socket A, of the stud E, latch F, and spring Gr, constructed and operating substantially as described and shown, for the purposes set forth.

' W. W. URQUHART.

Witnesses:

THOS.'S. SPRAGUE, MYRON H. CHURCH. 

